Authors : Lic. Yefran Antonio Rivas

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 4 - April

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/4uytz6sk

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/3txcbk4c

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26apr079

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Emergency departments are currently facing a sustained increase in demand for care, which is placing significant pressure on their capacity to provide optimal and efficient care. In this context, the turnaround time of the clinical laboratory is of key importance, given that a considerable proportion of diagnostic and therapeutic decisions depend on the availability of analytical results. Consequently, delays in issuing these results can contribute to prolonged hospital stays and inefficiencies in the operation of emergency departments. From this perspective, the present analysis aimed to explore and understand the factors that influence delays in emergency department care, with particular emphasis on clinical laboratory processes. The review was conducted following the PRIMA 2020 guidelines, using a structured search of scientific literature published between 2007 and 2026 in databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and Elsevier. After the selection and evaluation process, 26 studies were included for qualitative analysis. The results highlight the central role of clinical laboratory services in the patient flow within emergency departments. Prolonged turnaround times are consistently associated with longer hospital stays and reduced operational efficiency. Furthermore, factors related to the pre-analytical phase and the overuse of diagnostic tests were identified as contributing to laboratory delays. These findings underscore the need to optimize laboratory workflows and strengthen coordination with emergency services to improve the timeliness and quality of care provided.

Keywords : Emergency Care Delay, Clinical Laboratory, Pre-Analytical Phase, Response Time, Quality of Care.

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